A micro-capillary technique was applied to a Devanathan-Stachurski electrochemical cell for local measurement of hydrogen permeation into a steel sheet. An electrolyte-flowing design for the hydrogen entry side of the Devanathan-Stachurski cell successfully allowed the detection of hydrogen permeation response on hydrogen exit side electrode in a micro-capillary cell with a diameter of 250 µm. Phase shift of the detected permeation current from a sinusoidal perturbation of the electrolyte flow rate in the hydrogen entry cell was strongly dependent on the metallographic structure of the steel sheet. A local structure, in which two single grains form grain boundaries, led to hydrogen permeation more frequently than did a local structure of single grains. The results suggested that the diffusion coefficient of the boundaries was at least two-times larger than that of the grains.
A scanning electrochemical microscopic (SECM) observation of oxygen evolution on a polycrystalline titanium electrode during anodic oxidation in 0.1 mol dm−3 H2SO4 was attempted to evaluate the heterogeneity of the electrode surface. The micro probe electrode, which was scanned above the titanium electrode surface, could detect oxygen evolved in parallel with the formation of anodic oxide film. The probe current image corresponding to the distribution of oxygen evolution was in good agreement with the conventional probe current image measured in pH 8.4 borate solution containing K4Fe(CN)6, indicating that the oxygen evolution took place preferentially on the substrate grain covered with the thinner oxide film. It is shown that the SECM measurement of oxygen detection is useful for in-situ evaluation of the heterogeneity of anodic oxide film on the metal electrode during anodic oxidation.
腐食防食分野での微小電気化学測定の需要が高まっている.ここでは,走査型プローブ法の一種である走査型電気化学顕微鏡(SECM)の特徴および動作原理について簡単に説明した後,腐食防食の分野で適用されているSECM研究事例の一部を解説する.